THORNTON, CO – In a shocking turn of events at a popular entertainment venue, a Colorado man has confessed to a deadly shooting that left one coworker dead and another injured. The incident unfolded in December 2023 at Topgolf in Thornton, where Victor Salazar-Guarache, 27, a dishwasher at the establishment, admitted his role in the tragic event. On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder, accepting a plea deal that comes with a 48-year prison term.
The victims of this harrowing incident include 22-year-old Bryce Holden, who tragically lost his life, and a manager at the venue who sustained injuries. The chain of events began when Salazar-Guarache reportedly left work prematurely, with no clear reason as to why he departed before the end of his shift, initially scheduled to conclude at 11:42 p.m.
Authorities report that Salazar-Guarache was absent from the premises for about an hour. Surveillance cameras captured him leaving in his car, only to return around 12:50 a.m., coinciding with the time when other employees, including Holden and the kitchen manager, were finishing their shifts.
Eyewitness accounts and police reports suggest that Salazar-Guarache was situated in the parking lot when Holden and the manager made their way out. He allegedly stepped out of his vehicle, assumed a shooting stance, and commenced firing at the pair. Holden was struck multiple times, collapsing on the spot, while the manager managed to escape by retreating into the building. Shockingly, Salazar-Guarache continued to fire at Holden even after he was down, emptying a total of 12 bullets before making his escape.
A Lyft driver, present at the site to pick up a passenger, witnessed the chilling scene and reported seeing Salazar-Guarache laughing as he returned to his vehicle. Holden was urgently transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Salazar-Guarache was captured a few hours later on Interstate 25.
The Holden family is grappling with the profound loss of their son. Rod Holden, Bryce’s father, shared memories of his son, describing him as a lively young man with aspirations of moving to Barcelona. Meanwhile, Topgolf has expressed deep sorrow over the incident, vowing to cooperate fully with law enforcement and provide support to their employees during this challenging period.
Salazar-Guarache is slated for sentencing on October 11 and remains in custody with a bail set at $2 million.